MH-60 trainer is a 1st for US Navy squadrons in Japan

The much-anticipated MH-60R/S Tactical Operational Flight Trainer, also known as TOFT, was delivered May 16 to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, providing aircrew with the capability to learn how to operate two types of helicopters.

A first for MH-60 aircrew stationed in Japan, the simulator is a complete mission training device equipped with capabilities to provide pilots, co-pilots and sensor operators with skills and abilities to operate the MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk helicopters.

“The simulator is the first-of-its-kind reconfigurable TOFT for the MH-60 community,” said Capt. Craig Dorrans, Naval Aviation Training Systems (PMA-205) program manager, whose office procured the system. “It can be transformed from a MH-60R to a MH-60S training system in approximately three hours, allowing multiple squadrons to train on the simulator across a wide spectrum of missions. This is especially important for Atsugi, which serves as a base for both type model series helicopters.”

Built by CAE USA, the TOFT includes both an Operational Flight Trainer used by pilots and co-pilots, as well as a Weapons Tactics Trainer for sensor operators. When connected and used in joint mode, they become an MH-60 TOFT used to provide total aircrew training for both helicopter types.

The simulator arrived at the Port of Yokohama and was transported by truck to its new home. Installation began immediately and it will be ready for training this summer.

As the Navy’s premiere combat-ready submarine hunters and anti-surface warfare helicopters, the MH-60R and MH-60S’ multi-mission capabilities serve as significant contributors to war and peacetime events. Other operational abilities include humanitarian relief, search and rescue, vertical replenishment, personnel transport and medical evacuation.

PMA-205 is responsible for acquisition and life-cycle management of Naval Aviation training systems and training ranges to include flight simulators, part-task trainers, maintenance trainers and associated training curricula that are effective, efficient and economical. The program office addresses the widening gap between resources and training requirements by creating a tactically relevant common simulation environment that closely represents live flight, ensuring optimum performance for naval aviation that is imperative to the safety and readiness of our aircrews.